Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 22 August 1859, CO 305:11, no. 10034, 107.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Douglas reports on the continued and growing occupation of
the Island of San Juan…by detachments of United States Troops,along with guns, military stores, and labourers, which Douglas asserts is
an unmistakable character of permanence.Douglas confesses his disagreement with Baynes on how best to manage the occupation, arguing that
a bold and resolute stand, as [he] proposed in the first instance, would have nipped their project in the bud.Newcastle minutes that
the fact of overwhelming force of B. Navy as compared with U.S. troops removed any possibility of misunderstanding as to reasons for adopting the moderate course of remonstrance instead of resort to force.
No. 41
22 August 1859
I beg to communicate for the information of Her Majesty's
Government that the Island of San Juan is still occupied by
detachments of United States Troops, the force now assembled
there being about four hundred men, with eight 32 pounder Guns,
Several field pieces, and a large quantity
quantity of military stores;
besides a number of labourers and artificers who are to be
Employed in erecting barracks for those troops; their occupation
of the island has therefore assumed an unmistakable character of
permanence.
quantity of military stores;
besides a number of labourers and artificers who are to be
Employed in erecting barracks for those troops; their occupation
of the island has therefore assumed an unmistakable character of
permanence.
2. On our part we maintain Mr De Courcy on the Island as
resident Magistrate, and Her Majesty's Ship "Satellite" with a
complement re-inforced by the addition of fifty four
Supernumerary Marines, is anchored in the offing, for the
protection of British Subjects; but none of Her Majesty's Troops
have been landed there.
3. Every
3. Every precaution has been taken on our part to avert the
danger of collision, and conflicts are not expected to occur,
unless the rights of British Subjects should be violated by
attempts on behalf of the United States to levy taxes on their
property, or otherwise to spoil or oppress them.
3. Every precaution has been taken on our part to avert the
danger of collision, and conflicts are not expected to occur,
unless the rights of British Subjects should be violated by
attempts on behalf of the United States to levy taxes on their
property, or otherwise to spoil or oppress them.
4. I confess with regret that my views differ essentially from
those expressed by Rear Admiral Baynes, in reference to the
maintenance of Her Majesty's rights to the Island of San Juan.
5. Rear Admiral Baynes is opposed to the landing of troops on
San Juan, as was intended by me, because he
he believes they would
have been resisted on landing by the Troops of the United
States, while I had no fears of any such result. Our respective
views are fully explained in a correspondence with him on the
subject, which is herewith forwarded.
he believes they would
have been resisted on landing by the Troops of the United
States, while I had no fears of any such result. Our respective
views are fully explained in a correspondence with him on the
subject, which is herewith forwarded.
6. The measures which I deemed it necessary to take in order to
hold San Juan against the encroachments of the United States are
therein set forth, and my opinion, on the subject, remains
unaltered. I feel assured that a bold and resolute stand, as I
proposed in the first instance, would have nipped their project
in the bud,
bud, increased the influence and dignity of this
Government, and prevented collisions, which a policy of
concession may precipitate. I think the letter from General
Harney, giving his reasons for occupying San Juan will add force
to that opinion, as it shews that the project was undertaken in
a spirit of levity and with a want of consideration hardly
consistent with a settled and pre-arranged purpose.
bud, increased the influence and dignity of this
Government, and prevented collisions, which a policy of
concession may precipitate. I think the letter from General
Harney, giving his reasons for occupying San Juan will add force
to that opinion, as it shews that the project was undertaken in
a spirit of levity and with a want of consideration hardly
consistent with a settled and pre-arranged purpose.
7. Had we at once assumed that dignified attitude, Her
Majesty's Government would moreover, have been placed in a much
better position
than they now will
will be for dealing firmly with the question of
the disputed Territory.
Possession on either side confers of course a better position.
will be for dealing firmly with the question of
the disputed Territory.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Acke. Refer to despatch of last Mail as conveying opinion of
H.M. Govt & point out that the fact of overwhelming force of B. Navy
as compared with U.S. troops removed any possibility of misunderstanding
as to reasons for adopting the moderate course of remonstrance
instead of resort to force.
N
12
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
R.L. Baynes to Douglas, 13 August 1859,
advising that he had cancelled the orders under which Captain
Hornby was acting.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 22 October 1859,
forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosures.
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 18, 21 October 1859, acknowledging earlier correspondence on the
occupation of the Island of San Juan,, and noting no change in Government's former instructions on the matter.